Self-propelled dispensing and spreading unit and compacter



Sept. 29, 1959 E. 1.. CARPENTER 2,906,433

SELF-PROPELLED DISPENSING AND SPREADING UNIT AND COMPACTER Filed June 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ernest L. Carpen/er JA M ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1959 E. L. CARPENTER 2,906,438

SELF-PROPELLED DISPENSING AND SPREADING UNIT AND COMPACTER Filed June 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ernest L. Garpen/er ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1959 E. L. CARPENTER 2,90631'38 SELF-PROPELLED DISPENSING AND SPREADING UNIT AND COMPACTER Filed June 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Ernes/ L Carpenfer ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1959 E. L. CARPENTER SELF-PROPELLED DISPENSING AND SPREADING UNIT AND COMPACTER 5 Sheets Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1957 -1NVENTOR Ernesf L. Carpenfer I ATTORNEY United States Patent Q DISPENSING SPREADING AND COMPACTER SELF-PROPELLED UNIT This invention relatesto a spreader device, and it particularly relates to a self-propelled spreader. for spreading and compacting aggregate during the asphalting of highways and the like.

Hertofore; in asphalting highways, the hot asphalt was first spread completely over the area to be treated before the aggregate was spread thereover in a second operation. Then, after the aggregate was completely spread, the area was rolled to embed the aggregate into the asphalt. One of the great disadvantages of this system was that by the time the area was rolled, the asphalt had almost completely cooled and solidified, making it somewhat difficult to suificiently embed and adhere the aggregate within the asphalt. The most eflicient method would consist of compacting orembedding the aggregate in the asphalt immediately after the asphalt is spread since asphalt is generally spread at high temperatures, usually ranging between about 375 F. to 400 F. Aggregate which is embedded or rolled into thestill liquid, hot asphalt would be firmly bonded in place when the asphalt cooled so that there would belittle or no whip-o The term whip-off is commonly used to refer to the loose aggregate particles which 'are Whipped or flung off the highway by moving traflic before they have a chance to become-firmly'embedded in the asphalt.

Another problem inherent in the systems heretofore in use involved the necessity to half the movement of the spreader at intervals in order to reload it with aggregate. This caused a great loss of time since many such stops were necessary during the asp-halting of a highway or road of any length. Since the time during which the work could be accomplished is already severely limited by weather conditions, the additional loss of time required for reloading of the spreader involved much waste of time and money. i

It is one object of the present invention to obviate the above and other difii'culties by providing a device which can quickly spread and embed aggregate particles while 1 the asphaltis" still hot.

Another'obj'ect of the present iriventitmiisto provide an aggregate spreader which is adapted tooperate continuously without any need for stopping to reload.

Another object of the present invention is to" provide an aggregate spreader which is capable of evenly metering and spreading the'aggregate along its entire width or of distributing the flow of aggregate to any portion of its width as desired.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved spreader device, of the character described, that is-easity and economically produced, which is sturd in'cons'tructioir, and which is highly elfici'ent inoperation.

Withtlie abbve and related objects in view, in-

ventiofr consists the details ofconstruc n and conrthe) accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of alsp're'ader" device Patented Sept. 29, 1959 2 embodying the present invention, the device being shown during use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of the device'of Fig. 1. 7

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in'section, of the device of Fig. 1.-

Fig. 4 is a bottom view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the operating feed parts with the corresponding portions of the chassis omitted.

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, takenon' line 6-=-6 of Fig. 3. a

' Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of one'of the partitions in the hopper.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. ,9 is a fragmentary, enlarged, detailed, sectional view of the feed roller and its associatedparts.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is showna spreader device, generally designated 10,- which comprises a chassis 12 at the front end of which is provided a hopper 14 defined by an inclined rear wall 16 and a straight front wall 18. A rearwardly and downwardly inclined top wall 20 is provided with a central, rectangularopening covered by a screen 22.

At the lower endof the hopper 14 an opening 24 is provided, this opening beingv defined by an outwardlyarcuately curved, lower rear wall section 26. The front wall 18 ends above the opening and a flexible curtain 28 suitably secured thereto depends therefrom to partly overhang the opening 24. A gate 32 is movably positioned on wall 18 by headed stud 30 throughslots 31 to open or close the opening 24 This gate 32 is operated by means of a-pair of arms 34 which are connected to a common cross-shaft 36' by links 38. The left hand link is, iii/turn, connected to a hand lever 40 at the operators station. This hand. lever is used to raise and lower the gate and may be locked either in the closed, the open or any intermediate position by ordinary latching means.

,Adjacent the opening 24, within; the area'defined by the curved wall 26, is a meteri'ngfeed roller 42 This feed roller is divided. into apluralityof sections by peripheral slots 44, each section including helically extend.- ing spaced apart ribs 46 providing feed pockets 47 therebetween. As bestshown' in Figs. 3 and 9, the ribs 46 co'act withthe flexible curtain 28 to meter the aggregate dispensed from the hopper so that a predetermined amount is dispensed with each rotation of the feed roller. This is accomplished by the curtain c'oacting with each rib. 4-6 andpocket 47 to flexibly contain an amount of aggregate until the rib passes below the lower end of the curtain, at which time the amount of aggregate in the pocket between that rib and the next rib above falls by gravity through the opening 24. I

The station for the operator 45 is at the left of the screenedopenihg 22 at the top of the hopper, and inc l ud'es a seat 48, avehicle steering wheel 50 and all the Various controls necessary for the operation of the device. The device is, itself, a self-contained vehicle wherein the chassis 12 is mounted on a pair of front power wheels 5 2 and a pair of rear steering wheels .54. Each of the steering wheels is, mounted on an individual axle on an individual stipporting shaft 55, these axles being connected to corresponding levers 5 6 by a universal joint 58'. The. levers 5 6 are connected .by corresponding joints 60, to a cross-shaft 62. This crossshaft 62 is centrally provided with a joint 64 corin'ec fig it to a lever 66. The lever 66 is connected by ajoirit as toa steering shaft, not shown; this shaft eeirigeqnconnected by chains 72 to corresponding drive sprockets 74. Each sprocket 74 is connected by a shaft 76 to a sprocket 73 which is connected by a chain 80 to a sprocket 82 mounted 'on the shaft of a differential gear system indicated at 84. This differential gear system is of the type ordinarily used in automobiles 01' trucks to enable the drive wheels to turn corners and is equipped with high and low forward speeds and reverse. The high speed is used for moving the vehicle from one working area to another while the low speed is used to move the spreader behind the asphalt distributor during spreading and rolling operations. The differential gear system is connected to an engine 86.

Connected to the drive shaft of engine 86 is a shaft 87 upon which is mounted a sprocket 88. This sprocket 88 is connected bychain 90 to a sprocket 92 mounted on a shaft 94 to drive this shaft 94. Also mounted on shaft 94 is a sprocket 96 which is connected by chain 98 to a sprocket 100 on a shaft 102. This shaft 102 extends cross-wise of the machine and is provided at each end with a sprocket 104 which is connected by a chain 106 to a corresponding sprocket 108 on one end of a shaft upon which is provided a distributing auger 110. The auger 110 is positioned within the hopper and is provided with throwing blades to distribute the aggregate particles toward both sides of the hopper. The blades on one half of the auger are oppositely inclined relative to the blades on the other half so that the blades on the right side throws the aggregate to the right end of the hopper and the blades on the left side throw it to the left end of the hopper thereby effecting an even distribution.

The anger is provided with peripheral slots similar to those on the feed roller 42 and in corresponding positions. This is to permit the insertion of partition panels 112, such as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, within the hopper. To place these panels into the hopper, the bottom portion 114 is inserted into a peripheral groove or slot 44 on the feed roll and then straightened to engage a corresponding slot on the auger within the half slot 116. This lower portion 114 is then bolted to the sides of the hopper by means of cap screws or the like. Thereafter, the upper portion 118 is put in place with the half slot 120 mating with half slot 116 and this upper portion is also fastened to the sides of the hopper. Flanges, not shown, on each portion, extending laterally from the edges, permit easy fastening. Spring clips 122 are secured to the upper portion 118 and press against the lower portion to maintain the alignment as well as to add to the rigidity of the assembly. The partitions may be inserted between the corresponding slots on the feed roller and anger at any predetermined distance from the center in order to vary the operating width of the hopper depending on the width of the area to be treated.

The feed roller 42 is driven by the power wheels 52 by means of a chain 124 at either end of the feed roller shaft. Each of these chains 124 extends between a sprocket 126 on the feed roller shaft and a sprocket 128 on the corresponding wheel axle. An over-run clutch 130 is provided in conjunction with each sprocket 126 in order to compensate for differences in speeds between the two power wheels, as when turning corners.

Rearwardly of the feed roller is provided a pressure roller system for embedding the aggregate into the asphalt. This pressure roller system depends from the underside of the chassis and comprises a first set of axially-spaced pneumatic tired wheels 132 positioned in line with the forward power wheels 52, as best seen in Fig. 4, and a second set of axially-spaced pneumatic tired Wheels 134 positioned between the front and rear wheels 52 and 54. The wheels 132 and 134 are so arranged that each wheel 132 lim between a pair of wheels 134. In this manner, the entire ground surface is covered by the roller system.

The wheels 132 and 134 are separated into pairs with each pair mounted on a separate supporting standard 136 or 138. Each support'136 and 133 is provided at its bottom with a pivotal joint, as at 140 and 142. This pivotal joint connects the support standard to the corresponding axle for each pair of wheels and permits compensation between the wheels whereby one wheel goes up and the other down when they pass over a depression or bill. The support standards are connected to the underside of a support plate 144 which is, in turn, supported by cross-bars 146, and chains 148, the chains 148 acting to flexibly support the plate 144. The support plate 144 and the pressure wheels 132 and 134 depending therefrom are adapted to be adjusted to various desired vertical positions by means of chains 150, best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, which are connected, at their lower ends, to brackets 152 on the plate 144. These chains extend over corresponding sprockets 154 mounted on supports in bars 156. Sockets 158 are provided in each sprocket to releasably receive a corresponding socket portion of a handle 160. This handle can be used on each sprocket and then removed to be used on the next sprocket in order to wind the sprockets to turn the chains and elevate or lower the plate 144. Fixed to each sprocket is a ratchet 162 which coacts with a pivoted dog 164.

Since this machine is relatively short and since the bulk of its weight is at the front end, a counterweight system is provided at the rear end to prevent tilting forward on a very steep grade. This counterweight system comprises a series of trays 166 on the top of the chassis and containers 168 under the upper surface of the chassis, as best shown in Fig. 3. Weights of various dimensions, according to need, are placed in these trays and containers.

In order to permit a dump truck, such as shown at 170 in Fig. l, to back up to the device and unload directly into it without either the truck or spreader stopping, a skip 172 is provided at the rear of the machine. The skip has a front funnel section 174 and a rear receiving section 176. The skip is pivoted at its front, funnel end, by means of a rocking shaft 178. At its rear end, the skip is provided with loops through which extends a cable 182. The opposite sides of the cable extend around drums 184 and 186 respectively; these drums being mounted on a shaft 188 mounted on a hoisting derrick frame 190. Cross-braces 192 strengthen the frame. A pulley 194 is mounted on one end of shaft 188 and is connected to a winch 196 by a cable 198. The winch 196 takes its power directly from engine 86 by suitable driving connections, generally indicated at 199, and is used to operate the derrick to pivot the skip to the desired position to receive the aggregate from the dump truck and to funnel it into the hopper 14.

In the funnel portion of the skip, a diverter arm 200 is pivotally connected, as at 202, to the front end of the skip. A handle 204, best shown in Fig. 2, is attached to the central portion of the arm 200 and is available to the operator to permit him to pivot the diverter arm into any desired position to shift more aggregate to any portion of the hopper, as needed.

The operation of the device is obvious from the above description. In general, the spreader 10 is self-propelled to follow the asphalt spreader immediately behind and to dispense the aggregate and roll it into the hot asphalt in a continuous,operation. When more aggregate is needed, a dump truck, such as indicated at 170 can back up slowly so as to maintain movement with the spreader and dump its load of aggregate into the upraised rear end of the skip while the spreader continues to move forward. The skip is then lowered by the winch system into the desired position. If the road is narrow or if only a portion thereof is to be treated, the partitions 114 are inserted to limit the effective hopper area to the desired width.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A self-propelled aggregate dispensing device comprising a chassis, drive means on said chassis, wheels for propelling said chassis, and a hopper on said chassis for dispensing aggregate, said hopper comprising a substantially straight front Wall, an inclined rear wall extending from a relatively wide upper end of the hopper to a relatively narrow lower end, substantially straight side walls, said hopper being provided with a rearwardly and downwardly inclined screened inlet opening and said lower end being constructed to form a dispensing chute being defined by an arcuately curved rear Wall portion comprising a continuation of said inclined rear wall, the lower end of said straight front wall and the lower end of said arcuately curved rear wall portion defining a front opening, a movable gate for closing said front opening, a flexible curtain connected to the internal surface of the front wall of said hopper above said open front portion and extending into said opening, a feed and metering roller encompassed by said arcuate curved rear wall portion, said roller being provided with helical ribs arranged individually to contact said curtain upon rotation of said roller, a distributing auger in said hopper adjacent. the upper end thereof, comprised of rotatable shaft having a plurality of helical blades thereon, said auger being divided into two portions, the blades of the two portions inclining in opposite directions from opposite sides of the center line so as to evenly distribute the aggregate,

said roller and said auger being provided with a plurality of vertically aligned peripheral slots, removable partitions insertable in said hopper between corresponding vertically aligned slots in said roller and auger to adjust the width of said hopper, and means operable by said wheel for rotating said roller and said auger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,163,770 Ransome Dec. 14,- 1915' 1,424,507 Meldal Aug. 1, 1922 1,628,088 Webb May 10, 1927 1,639,238 Tarrant Aug. 16, 1927 1,641,703 Stanton Sept. 6, 1927 1,652,434 George et a1 Dec. 13, 1927 1,699,437 Killik Jan. 15, 1929 1,712,549 Castellano et al. May 14, 1929 2,011,417 Robb Aug. 13, 1935 2,024,184 Ritchie Dec. 17, 1935 2,026,241 McCrery Dec. 31, 1935 2,162,665 Mosel June 13, 1939 2,241,863 Lett May 13, 1941 2,261,491 Baily Nov. 4, 1941 2,278,948 Rodli Apr. 7, 1942 2,314,601 Ritchie Mar. 23, 1943 2,317,274 Johnson Apr. 20, 1943 2,684,788 Bland July 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,293 France Aug. 22, 1936 

